Alma 38

Chapter Overview

What happens in Alma 38

Alma addresses his faithful son Shiblon with brief but tender counsel, commending his steadiness, faithfulness, and patience under persecution. He shares his own conversion as a teaching moment and offers practical wisdom on humility, boldness, and self-mastery.

Scripture

Commendation for Faithfulness

Study note

Alma tells Shiblon that he has already had great joy in him because of his faithfulness, diligence, patience, and long-suffering among the Zoramites. He acknowledges that Shiblon was put in bonds and stoned for the word's sake, yet bore it all with patience because the Lord was with him. Alma's counsel to Shiblon is notably shorter and warmer than his counsel to the other sons -- Shiblon does not need correction, only encouragement and continued direction.

1 My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence.

2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.

3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites.

4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word's sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.

5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Alma's Testimony and Practical Counsel

Study note

Alma briefly retells his conversion -- the angel, the three days of bitter anguish, and the salvation that came only through Christ -- as a personal witness. He then offers pointed, practical counsel: be diligent and temperate, do not be lifted up in pride, do not boast in wisdom or strength, use boldness but not overbearance, bridle all passions that you may be filled with love, and avoid praying as the Zoramites do. The parting blessing -- 'may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace' -- is among the most tender farewells in scripture.

6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things.

7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth.

8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.

9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.

10 And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.

11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.

12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.

13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.

14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.

15 And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell.

Key Themes

Themes in Alma 38

Faithful endurance under persecutionTrusting in God brings deliveranceSalvation comes only through Jesus ChristBoldness tempered by humilityBridling passions to be filled with loveA father's tender blessing

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Alma 38:9 Acts 4:12

Alma's testimony that 'there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ' directly echoes Peter's bold declaration before the Jewish council that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Alma 38:12 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Alma's counsel to bridle all passions parallels Paul's teaching about exercising self-control like an athlete, bringing the body into subjection so that after preaching to others, one is not disqualified.

Apply This Today

Living Alma 38

Alma's counsel to Shiblon is a masterclass in balance: be bold but not overbearing, be confident but not proud, be passionate but bridled. Notice especially his instruction to 'bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.' A bridled horse is not passionless -- it is powerful under control. God does not ask you to eliminate your intensity, your drive, or your emotion. He asks you to direct them toward love. The result is not less passion but more purposeful passion.

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